Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-23

CHICO, May 22d.-This city and vicinity
has been in fever of excitement over the
developments in the Hong Di case since
yesterday morning, and the excitement
reached the climax to-day when it was
learned that the murderer had actually
been captured. 1t appears that on yester-
day morning the keeper of the Chico free
bridge found on the bridge some property
belonging to Hong Di, including his gun.
hat and shoes and some letters, in one of
which he stated that he was going to drown
himself in the river. The gun was identi-
| fed as his, and the tracks were traced across
the bridge toward Chico. Sheriff Ball ana
| numerous citizens at once began searching
for him. 1t was thought by some to be a
blind to let him get out of the country
but Hong Di could read and write. and his
signature to the letters were in the same
hand that wrote his name on his photo
graphs. One of the letters said that he did
not intend to kill the woman, but the man
Weaver had threatened to kill him, and he
took the first chance.
RESORT TO GUNNYBAGs.
1t was soon apparent that he did not
jump in the river to drown, as he said in
his letter, but he had made new shoes for
his feet out of gunnysacks, as his loot
prints were traced to Chico, where he must
have arrived about ~ o'clock on Friday
night. 1t was about 10 o'clock when he
passed over the bridge, as the brIdgekeeper
says it was at that hour his dogs barked
furiously. Early yesterday morning the
Neubarth band was returning from Oro-
vile, and when about eight miles this side
they passed Chinaman on the road with
gunnySackS on his feet, and it is more than
likely this was Hong Di.
HE Is TIRED OF LIFE
In one of his letters Hong Di said that
lie was tired of living, as he had seen that
all Cinnamon refused to protect him. He
SAID MIR. Billion IS a good man, and he
would like to speak to him that from his
| hiding place he has seen Mr. Billion often
| since the murder, and that yesterday morn
| ing he saw Mr.. Billion and a man 20 out
| to the field and catch a horse.
| Mr.. Billion, who came over last evening.
| says the circumstance is correct, and that
] the place where Hong Di had been hiding
is only about three-quarters of a mile from
| his house, in the Finnell warehouse onthe
river. Another letter says that he left 81
in his ROOM and that Mr.. Billion owed him
Sl20. Mr. Billion says that this is eli cor
rect. In the place where he had been con-
( cealed he left some articles, and had com
Portable place between the bales of hay.
! FIRST NEWS OF THE CAPTURE.
| CHICO, May 22d-Hong Di, the mur-
derer Of Mrs. Billion, was caught to-day by
L. NJ. Shubert, sewing machine agent,
| about ten miles below Chico He was
| brought to Chico and taken quietly to the
residence of Mr.. Shubert and fed, as he
was in q terribly emaciated condition for
want Of food. About noon Shubert secured
a fresh team and, with assistance, started
for Oroville. Hong Di confessed to being
| the man wanted.
| HOW THE ARREST WAS INFECTED.
CHICO, May 22d.-[By Postal Telegraph. !
- Shubert, the sewing machine agent, who
has fairly covered himself with gIory-and
| is the hero of the hour in the vicinity of
| Chico and Oroville-says that he saw Hong
| Di in q wheat field q short distance from
! the road, and went for him. After feeble
attempt to evade him, the murderer. at
! Shubert's command, threw up his hands
aud allowed his captor to bind him securely
| with cord. He presented most haggerd
and pitiable appearance. He wore an old
| felt hat, which had been cut into the shape
of a cap. His feet were shooless, but We're
clad in stockings, the traditional gunuv-
sacks having been discarded.